The Setup
This was my first ever trade on AMD, and the setup caught my eye for a few reasons.
Looking at the chart, AMD had testing resistance for a while and was forming higher lows. Right around the $86.50 area, price bounced off a level of prior structure and started showing some solid bullish momentum.
That’s when I entered.
There was a bit of hesitation at first, but candles started stacking, and it looked like volume was creeping up – so I bought in.
The Quick Exit
- Bought: ~$86.80
- Sold: ~$89
- Result: +2.55% gain in 1 hour 45 minutes
It was a nice, quick move – honestly the kind of trade you hope for when day trading. I felt good locking in green, and I didn’t want to get greedy. The market had been choppy lately with everything going on, and I didn’t want to risk a reversal.
But here’s where it gets interesting…
What I Missed by Not Holding
Roughly 17 hours later, AMD absolutely took off. If I had held the position overnight, it would have run an extra 6.44% – for a total move of nearly 9% from my entry.
Not only that, but it moved pretty cleanly, with no major rejection until after that push.
Looking back at the chart, it’s a classic lesson in:
- Letting winners run
- Being patient when the setup is strong
- Balancing short-term wins with longer-term potential
What I Learned
This wasn’t a bad trade at all – but it reminded me that profit isn’t everything if the mindset isn’t aligned.
- I didn’t trust the setup enough. The entry was solid.
- I sold out of fear of losing profits, not because of price action.
- I had no defined target – just “take profit if it feels right,” which isn’t a plan.
I don’t regret locking in green, but I’ll be tightening up my exit strategy moving forward – especially when I see a strong continuation setup forming.
Final Thoughts
Trading AMD gave me exactly what I needed: a quick win and a longer-term reminder.
Next time, if I see confirmation and structure holding, I’m going to breathe, step back, and give the move more space to play out. A quick brew, not a panic pour.